§ 41. Captain STRICKLANDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the House particulars regarding all recent purchases of imported motor-cars for police use; how many were bought; at what price per car; of what horse-power; and whether motor manufacturers in this country were invited to tender for these?
§ 44. Major DESPENCER-ROBERTSONasked the Home Secretary the reasons for the recent purchase of 120 American cars for the use of police departments?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)I know of no foundation for the suggestion that imported motor-cars are being bought for police use; all the vehicles which police authorities have bought for motor patrol purposes have been of British manufacture. I might add that the Home Office circular of the 25th November, 1930, prescribing the con- 811 ditions for the motor patrol scheme in the country generally, provided that "all motor vehicles must be of British manufacture," and I have no reason to believe that this condition is not being adhered to.
§ Major DESPENCER-ROBERTSONAre we to take it then that the story that these cars were landed in this country, as reported in the "Daily Herald," is a pure fabrication?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAs far as I know.